WWE NXT SOUNDOFF

JOHNNY GARGANO VS. DOMINIK DIJAKOVIC
How awesome is Johnny Gargano’s new entrance? Nice touch to have Johnny clean the NXT logo to symbolize his cleaning of NXT as a whole.
Starting with a match that has as much potential as these two when we already have a stacked card is going to be interesting.
Strange that they had Gargano look like he hurt his knee only to have them completely move on from the spot without even acknowledging it on commentary.
Gargano is a great opponent for Dijakovic here as he can toss Gargano around getting his power over why still losing to Gargano doing heel tactics without losing any real heat.
Here comes Candice to distract Dominik long enough for Gargano to finally get the advantage in the match.
That kick from Dijakovic looked like it almost went through the chest of Johnny Gargano.
Interesting twist to have Gargano still get caught trying to take off the turnbuckle pad while Candice distracted the ref.
Really good that they at least went back to the turnbuckle and that it leads to the victory by Gargano.

Let’s hope last week was also the last episode of the Newly Bro’s Game.
Great looking video piece with Barthel and Aichner. The Camera Angle and Smoke really make Imperium look bad ass.

AKIRA TOZAWA VS. JACK GALLAGHER – INTERIM NXT CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT MATCH
Good fast paced start to the match where I actually don’t have a feeling who will win. Both men getting the victory can make sense depending on the booking.
No Mauro, Jordan Devlin is not the Kingpin of the Crusierweight Division, he is the CHAMPION of the Cruiserweight Division.
And with the senton Tozawa gets a much more decisive victory to put him at 2-0 in the Round Robin and eliminates Jack Gallagher.
Akira’s english is getting much better and like the idea of him and Fantasma now after the promo.

XIA LI VS. CHELSEA GREEN W/ ROBERT STONE
I can’t help smile along with Xia Li every time she comes out.
Chelsea having the train as part of her gear gave me flashbacks to her Hot Mess character.
Like the heel tactics of Chelsea to get that opening shot.
Interesting that we are going to get the Xia Li and Aaliyah feud by the looks of her interfering allowing Chelsea Green to get the pinfall victory after an I Am Prettier.
Looks like Aaliyah may be the next to join the Robert Stone brand. Could be the best thing for her.

Not the best promo from Velveteen Dream but just meant to push the match later tonight.

KARRION KROSS W/ SCARLETT VS. LEON RUFF
Not sure what to make of the Bordeaux and Kross entrance yet. It is either awesome or way too over the top.
I am betting Ruff is wishing he was back in Evolve after this. He looks like he is just being broken in half by Kross with only two moves.
Kross Jacket submission gives Karrion the submission win in an obvious squash match to put over Kross in his debut.

Another recap of Charlotte’s NXT goals to promote the Women’s Title match. Same thing we’ve seen for two weeks now.

Back with Riddle and Thatcher pretending that Pete Dunne was never part of the team.
Thatcher is still a better promo than Riddle.

IO SHIRAI VS. CHARLOTTE FLAIR – NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Charlotte Flair doesn’t look like her father, like many have said, she looks like a plsatic fake barbie doll. Less Makeup and Less Surgery is better.
Not good for Charlotte if she is already catching her breath while Io is just smiling, laughing and yelling in Japanese.
Nice job to connect this match with Charlotte ending the streak of Asuka.
How long has Charlotte had the big C and F on her boots?
Why not call the move the Frakensteiner when Io Shirai hit it?
Looked like a bad landing by Charlotte when she came off attempting the Moonsault.
Nice kickout by Io Shirai after the big boot from Charlotte that I thought actually was going to end it.
I think they are missing out on some interesting story telling by not having Charlotte lose this match.
Well I guess she still loses the match and this may make an even better story telling by having her get DQ’d to set up a bigger match.
Here comes Rhea Ripley for the save. If you believe the internet reports they must have filmed this match in Australia.
Nice touch to have Rhea tell Io to shut up and them to keep arguing after the match.

Rhea is sick of Charlotte? She is the one that brought this on NXT and not the other way around. Good they are building to a feud between Io and Rhea now.

KUSHISA VS. JAKE ATLAS – INTERIM NXT CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT MATCH
If they wanted to have some cool story telling, have Drake Maverick come in and cause a DQ win FOR Kushida in order to help prevent Maverick from being Eliminated with a Jake Atlas win.
Atlas helped sell that Palm Strike like a million dollars.
Just started to notice that Kushida is not the best at long term selling.
Wow. Atlas gets submitted by the Arm Bar literally out of no where with Atlas actually having the advantage coming off the top rope.

I do like the idea of wrestlers coming out to the podium to cut promos as opposed to doing it in the ring.
So Finn doesn’t actually know who attacked him and is just sending out threats?

CAMERON GRIMES VS. DENZEL DEJOURNETTE
It’s nice now in WWE that Jobbers are not brand specific.
Or stranger that they actually get the quick advantage to start the match.
Granted they get jobbed out right after that with Grimes getting the quick win after hitting his stomp finisher out of nowhere.
Did you think saying Finn’s name was a good idea. At least he got the squash win right before getting his ass kicked by Balor.
Grimes just played the role that acts tough at the bar but picked the wrong guy.

Good recap video showing the build to Cole and Dream for the Championship.

VELVETEEN DREAM VS. ADAM COLE – NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
No more weird looking Afro moments during a match for Velveteen Dream it appears.
Does Dream’s trunks have the same pattern as his hair does?
What a massive slap to Cole by Dream with a great sell job by Cole.
Great looking superkicks from Adam Cole.
Looks like a lot of glitter is coming off of Dreams gear on to the mat and on both wrestlers.
I always get nervous when a referee is that close to both competitors in the corner as I expect a ref bump to happen.
Glad that the match didn’t end with Dream just falling on Cole for the pin.
That is one heck of a visual seeing Dexter Lumis slither out from under the ring when Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish were coming to ringside to aid Cole. Why was Roddy so intent on holding Bobby’s hand as they were coming out, though?
Well still got a ref bump just in a much creative way. This looks like it could be setting up Lumis and Dream when this is all done since it is kind of Lumis’ fault the ref couldn’t make the count.
Cole gets the pinfall win after the Last Shot.
Definitely makes me think they are leading to Lumis and Dream even more after Phillips highlighted on that fact during the recap of the match.